Apparatus for forming concrete floors



Feb. 3, 1931 .J. J. MORGAN APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONCRETE FLOORS Filed Aug. 1'7, 1928 .IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAP' ,4

367272 mforycziz Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN J. MORGAN, or COLI'IMBUS; onro APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONCRETE FLOORS Application filed August 17, 1928. Serial No. 300,351.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for use in the forming or laying of concrete floors or other layers or beds of concrete of the character such as are produced in the 6 construction and erection of concrete build ings and the present invention is directed specifically to novel means for removably supporting the forms or cores which are employed for defining or limiting such concrete 10 structures or formations.

In the laying of concrete floors particularly use is made of a plurality of substantially U shaped forms or cores which are supported by means of suitable frame work so that when the concrete is poured thereon the concrete upon setting or hardening will be shaped to secure a desired cross-sectional configuration thus calculated to produce a floor- 1 ing of maximum strength.

Heretofore in this method of laying concrete floors it has been customary to leave the cores or forms in theirapplied positions until after the concrete has become hardened or set to an extent sufficient to permit of the safe removal of the underlying frame work.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided through the use of which the said metallic cores or forms may be removed from engagement with the poured concrete within a short period of time following the pouring or laying of such concrete structures. This is done in order that in large building constructions it will not be necessary to use a large number of such forms or cores as has been hitherto necessary in prior methods, since by permitting of the ready removal of the cores or forms more repeated use of the latter is obtainable with the result that a very considerable economy is effected by reason of the smaller number of cores or forms necessary to carry out a given building,

operation. a

To attain these objects and advantages the present invention provides a frame work consisting of a hollow metallic soffit which carries a plurality of removable core orform supporting clips, which clips are provided with normally upstanding but bendable tongues in which are received the longitudinally extending side portions of the U shaped cores, the arrangement being such that said cores are supported in connection with the m-etalic sofiit and whereby following the pouring of the concrete floorings and a certain degree of hardening or setting thereof, the tongues of the removable clips may be bent downwardly so that such tongues will no longer sustain the weight of or support the cores or forms, thereby enabling the latter to be removed from their operative posi tions and then immediately used for subsequent similar operations. a

The invention further consists in forming the metallic soflits with slotsor openings adapted to removably receive the core supporting clips and to arrange said opening so that the clips'may be advantageously positioned at the most efiective positions along such metallic soflits.

A further advantage rests in positioning the clips so that the lower longitudinal edges of the cores or forms will closely engage'with the side walls of said soifits. I

With these and other objects in'view, as will appear as the description proceeds,- the invention consists in the novel features of construction; combinations of elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be more fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a con crete floor showing soffits provided with the removable metallic form supporting clips,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the supporting clips removed from the sofiit.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that the apparatus dis closed is employed in connection with the forming or laying of concrete floors'or the like. In carrying out the invention use is made of a suitable formof under frame 1, preferably of' roughly united timbers and supported from a sustaining surface below.

This frame'is employedto support a plu-e rality of horizontally extending hollow metallic soflit sections 2. These sections are formed from relatively heavy sheet metal and are each shaped to include an upper wall 3, transversely spaced vertically extending side walls 4-4 and inwardly turned base flanges 55, the flanges 5 resting upon the upper portions of the frame 1. Heretofore it has been customary to form the soffit sec tions from wood planks or bars, with the result that such sections have a very limited period of usefulness and must be frequently renewed. By forming the soffit sections from metal, however, their life is greatly increased and an economy provided irrespective of the slightly greater first cost of the sofiitsections.

In this instance the soffit is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots ,6 in the upper wall 3 thereof and with a plurality of cooperating slots 7 in the vertical side walls 4. These slots are adapted to receive removably a plurality of core or form supportingclips 8. Each of these clips comprises a flat sheet of metal bent to provide a horizontally extending body portion 9 which rests upon the upper wall 3 between the slot G and the walls 4. The outer portion of each ,clip is bent downwardly from the body 9 to produce a vertical leg 10, which is situated within the confines of the slot 7 in which the clip is located. It will be observed that the leg 10 is of less thickness than the wall A, so .that the leg 10 will, inoperation, be positioned to ,the rear of-the outer surface of .the wall 4. The leg 10 then terminates in an upwardly and angularly directed tongue 11, the outer or upper portion of which terminates in a horizontal plane materially above the upper wall This construction of the clip, in combination with the side wall 4 of the soffit produces a substantially V shaped pocket adapted for the reception of the vertical walls 12 of the removableformsor cores '13. These forms or cores .areof customary construction and are substantially U shaped in cross-section so that when applied the same are positioned between adjoining pairs of soflits, and are .held in their operative positions by means of the clips 8. The upper or outer surfaces of the forms or cores 13 and the upper surfaces of the soffits provide supporting sur faces upon which the concrete may be poured so as to produce aconcrete bed or floor of desired configuration.

To removably support the clips 8 in connection with the soiiits it will be .observed thatthe inner portions of the body'9 of each clip terminatesin a downwardly and angularly extending web 14 which is receivable within the slot 6, and the web 14 in turn terminates in a horizontally directed foot 15, which extends parallel with the body 9 but in horizontally offset relationship with respect thereto. The upper surface ofthe foot- 15 engages with the under surface of the wall 3 so that when the clip receives the weight of an associatedcore the foot 15 will be firmly maintained in engagement with the under side of the sotdt for the purpose of retaining the clip in its applied or operative position. The relative location of the slots 6 and 7 and the formation of the clip is such that the foot 15 may be first inserted into the slot 6 while said clip is angularly related to the soiiit, and then by rocking the clip in a downward direction its operative position is obtained in connection with the soflit and accidental removal thereof precluded. There are a greater number of the slots 6 and 7 provided in each sofiit than the clips employed. This is done in order that the contractor .ma-y position the clips at the most advantageouspoint along the length of each soiiit. It will :be observed that the slots 6 are partially closed by means ofa downwardly deflected lip '16 provided in connection with each thereof. The lips '16 partially obstruct said slots so as to prevent undue seepage of. moist concrete therethrough when said slots are not occupied by cooperative clips.

In practice, the frame work 1 is first erected and the soflits appliedat suitable positions in connection therewith. The'clips 8 are then positioned within the sofiits as described, which permits of the mounting of the cores or forms in their operative positions. The concrete bed or flooring isthen poured and is'permitted to set or harden for a certain period of time. Before the concrete has completely set or hardened the cores or forms may be removed for additional service in other locations and this may be accomplished without disturbing the position of the frame 1 or the soflits 2. In securing this object thetongues '11, which are pliable, are bent downwardly so that they lie substantially parallel with the sides 4. This removes the supporting means for the forms or cores and allows the'l atter to be drawn downwardly between the sot'fits 2 and removed from cooperation with the concrete bed or flooring 17. In this way tl e total number of cores or forms used'in connection with the buildingor laying of'concrete structures is materially decreased since itis no longer'necessary to retain the cores or forms in their operative positions until the frame work and soffits land 2 respectively have been removed, as hasbeen the prior practice. In addition to this advantage the present invention saves timeinthe erection of the structure for su-pportingthebed or floor 17, provides economy in theupkeep orrenewal cost of such supporting apparatus and in addition :produces a concrete floor wherein the under surfaces are straight, regular and sharply formed, overcoming the irregularity heretofore present in the wooden forms.

' Whatis claimed is: I

1. Iii-apparatus ofrthe character described,

ajmetallic sofiit formed to include a horithe body portion of said clip and arranged to project through a slot in the upper wall of the sofiit to engage with the under surface of said wall.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a metallic sofiit formed to include an upper wall and transversely spaced side walls, said upper wall being formed with slots near the outer edge thereof, removable clips carried by said sotfits, each of said clips being formed to include a horizontally extending body portion terminating at one end in an offset portion arranged to project through one of the slots in said top wall, the other end of said body portion of the clip being formed with a downwardly directed leg terminating in an upwardly and outwardly directed pliable form supporting extremity, said leg being socketed in the upper portion of one of the side walls in order that the side walls r of the form may be arranged flush against the outer surface of said side walls.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a metallic soflit formed to include an upper wall and transversely spaced downwardly extending side walls, said walls being provided with spaced registering slots, the slots in the side walls terminating at their upper ends at the junction of the top and side walls, and a plurality of removable clips carried by said soflits and arranged to 00- cupy said slots, each of said clips being formed to include an offset portion adapted to be inserted through the slots in the top wall and engage with the under surface of said wall, and a downwardly directed leg portion formed with said clip arranged to occupy the slot of one of said side walls, said downwardly directed legs terminating in an upwardly and outwardly directed pliable form supporting extension.

4. In apparatus of the character described,

- a metallic sofiit formed to include an upper wall and transversely spaced downwardly extending side walls, said walls being provided with spaced threaded slots, a plurality of removable clips carried by said soflits and arranged to occupy said slots, each of the" clips being formed to include a horizontally extending body portion, said body portion terminating in a downwardly directed leg arranged within the confines of said slots formed in the side walls, and a downwardly deflected lip struck from the top wall and partially obstructing the slots in said latterv Wall.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN J. MORGAN. 

